As we approach midnight, here’s a look at what’s “out there” in the Portland area and around the Northwest:

Portland police were forced to use a beanbag shotgun Thursday afternoon to subdue a man who was reportedly beating on passing cars between Lincoln High School and Providence Park on Southwest 18th Avenue. When police arrived, the man claimed to have a gun and reportedly motioned to his waistband. While searching the 31-year-old man, officers didn’t find a handgun on him. Rather, they found something that appeared to be fashioned to resemble a firearm. As one OregonLive remarked, “Given that he pretended to have a gun, and stated that he had a gun, he could have easily been shot.” (The Oregonian)